How to Claim a Lottery Prize in South Africa (2026 Guide)

Won something on PowerBall, Lotto or Daily Lotto? How you collect it depends on two things: how much you won and how you bought the ticket. This guide walks through both, updated for the National Lottery's new operator.

First: check your numbers

Before anything else, check your ticket against the official results. You can find every draw on our SA PowerBall results, SA Lotto results and Daily Lotto results pages, usually within minutes of the draw.

Who runs the National Lottery now?

Since 1 June 2026 the South African National Lottery has been run by Sizekhaya Holdings, which holds an eight-year licence. Ithuba ran the lottery from 2015 until its final draw on 29 May 2026.

If you bought a ticket while Ithuba was the operator, it is still valid — the usual 365-day claim period still applies. Sizekhaya briefly paused claims for older tickets while it checked records, and reopened them in June 2026.

Where to claim a paper ticket

Paper tickets bought at a shop are claimed according to the size of the prize:

• Up to R2,000: at any National Lottery retailer. Some retailers will pay a little more at their discretion, but don't count on it.
• R2,001 to R49,999: at an authorised payment centre. Check the list on the official National Lottery website before you travel, as payment arrangements changed with the new operator.
• R50,000 and above: in person at a Sizekhaya regional office. You'll need a completed Prize Claim Form and proof of identity.

Wins on a banking app or online

If you played through a banking app (such as FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank or Capitec) or on the official National Lottery website, smaller prizes come to you automatically:

• Up to R249,999.99: paid into the account you played from, typically within about seven working days.
• R250,000 and above: you'll be contacted, or you can call the National Lottery helpline on 0861 026 000. Your identity is verified and the prize is paid out by Sizekhaya.

Several of South Africa's biggest jackpots, including the R178.9 million PowerBall win in January 2026, were bought on banking apps.

Note that online accounts from the Ithuba era did not carry over. If you used to play on the old website, you'll need to register again.

What to bring

• The original ticket. Copies and photos are not accepted.
• Your ID (green barcoded ID, smart ID card or passport).
• A signed ticket. Sign the back and add your name, ID number and address as soon as you know you've won. An unsigned ticket belongs to whoever holds it.
• Bank details, for larger prizes paid by transfer. Bring a recent bank statement to be safe.
• A Prize Claim Form for prizes of R50,000 or more.

You have 365 days

Prizes must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date. After that the money is forfeited to the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund, which funds good causes. It happens more than you'd think: over R257 million in prizes was sitting unclaimed in late 2024. Read more in our piece on unclaimed lottery jackpots.

Support for big winners

Jackpot winners are offered free, confidential professional counselling and financial guidance. Winners' names are not published without their consent, so you don't have to go public.

Do you pay tax on it?

For South African National Lottery prizes, no. We explain why, and when tax does apply (winnings from foreign lotteries, and what your money earns afterwards), in Do you pay tax on lottery winnings in South Africa?

You must be 18 or older to play or claim. Play responsibly.